December 2, 2013updated 04 Dec 2013 1:22pm

NUJ apologises to Lucy Adams over email-hacking slur

The National Union of Journalist has apologised to BBC HR director Lucy Adams after it claimed she had been running a dirty tricks campaign.

Following the publication of an article on the Union’s website on 30 August 2013, Adams sought a withdrawal of the allegations and an apology.

Press Gazette understands that Adams did not seek any damages from the Union.

The claims were made following a tip-off from a BBC insider. However the allegations are not true.

The article “BBC dirty tricks including hacking NUJ Members’ emails” was published on the Union’s website.

According to the NUJ: “We would now like to apologise and clarify some of the statements contained in that article.

“The NUJ did not intend to suggest that BBC HR director Lucy Adams led a dirty tricks campaign or that there was any criminal activity on her part whatsoever. The NUJ apologises to Lucy Adams for making these allegations.

“It was the intention of the article to make a broader criticism of management practices at the BBC which the NUJ will continue to address through the appropriate industrial channels.

“We have agreed not to repeat these allegations and both parties now draw a line under the dispute.”

The BBC also said they welcomed the resolution of the matter adding: “The BBC hopes it can work constructively with the NUJ in the future.”

Adams will step down from her £320,000 year post at the end of March 2014.